DICE-John - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John Dice (deceased), farmer, Veedersburg. One of the prominent pioneers of Fountain county and Van Buren township, was John Dice. He was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia. His early education was such as he could obtain in the common school of his neighborhood. He was reared to the business of farming, the vocation of his parents. He was married in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1818, to Miss Elizabeth Haup, a native of Augusta county, born in 1792. The nine years succeeding his marriage with Miss Haup he resided in Virginia, when he with his family emigrated to Fountain county, locating, in the autumn of 1827, in Van Buren township, three miles south of where Veedersburg now stands. When he first located here the place looked to be fit only for the habitation of wild men and ravenous beasts. By patient toil he soon converted a part of the forest into a beautiful and comfortable home for himself and family. Here it was he raised his family of seven sons, six of whom are living, giving them such opportunities for intellectual culture as circumstances would permit, and a good, thorough education in farming and stock raising, so thorough that not one of his sons has departed from the course of their instruction. He was a strong advocate of whatsoever was in the interest of the country's welfare, or for the upbuilding of morality in society, and the diffusion of knowledge among all. He was a man strictly temperate in all things. The church of his choice was the Presbyterian, and he and his wife were among its first members in Van Buren township. He was a man of great firmness of character, and undertook few things but what he executed with vigilance. His social habits were such as to win for him many ardent friends. He was generous to the poor, and a willing supporter of that which was for public benefit. His wife departed this life June 19, 1845, aged fifty~two years nine months and twenty-five days. He survived her till August 12, 1847, when he died, aged fifty-three years nine months and twenty-five days. Not only their family missed their many acts of charity and kindness, but the community. Though they be dead, they still live in the community that knew them through their good works and words of comfort and cheer. Their sons all reside in Van Buren township: William, Jacob, John, Henry, George, and Franklin. William resides one and a half miles southeast of Veedersburg, where he has lived since 1843, the time of his marriage with Martha J. Noris, daughter of George and Sarah Noris, early pioneers of Mill Creek township. By this union he has five children, three of whom are living: Sarah E. (deceased), Francena, Olive, Franklin, and William. The mother of these departed this life in 1867. In 1870 William Dice was married a second time, to Rebecca Clark, a native of Fountain county, daughter of John and Lyna (Stafford) Clark, early pioneers of Richland township. W. Dice has his farm well improved and well stocked. He never had an office, nor desired such honors. Jacob was four years old when his father came to the county. He, like his brothers, was reared to the profession of farming, hut had aspirations in other directions. At the age of eighteen he united with the United Brethren church ; was licensed at the house of William Hooble to preach the gospel in 1847; in 1848 he was licensed by the annual conference to preach in Vermilion county, Indiana, and has filled the position of local preacher since that time, with the exception of two years. He was ordained an elder in 1852 in the United Brethren church in Coles county, Illinois, by the annual conference. In 1851 he was elected state representative by the people of. Fountain county. During the late war he was captain of Co. C, 154th indd. Vols. He was married, in 1844, to Miss Mary J. Rynear, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are living : Francis M., Sarah, and Martha F. Jacob Dice has a fine farm, one mile northwest of Veedersburg. John resides one mile and a half southeast of Veedershurg, on a farm of 153 acres, which is well improved and well stocked. He was marned in 1850, to Anna Hartman, a native of Ohio, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Bermellia) Hartman, both natives of Switzerland. They emigrated to America in 1816, locating in Pennsylvania, where they remained till 1823, when they moved to Ohio. In 1843 they emigrated to Iowa, where they remained but a short time, and, spending one winter in Illinois, they came to Fountain county in 1848, where they both died in 1855. Jacob Hartman served as a soldier in the army of Switzerland. He and his family were six months on their way to America, and were reduced to such straitened circumstances pecuniarily, that they sold their clothes for bread and themselves to pay their passage. They lost three children on the ocean, two of whom were committed to the waves. By this marriage John Dice Jr. has two children, Charley and Elizabeth. Henry resides on the old homestead of his father, one of the finest locations in the township. He was married in 1848, to Charlotte Rice, native of Ohio, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Thomas) Rice, early pioneers of Van Buren township. They located near the Sugar Grove Woolen Mills in 1827. They were both natives of Virginia. The former died in 1844, aged fifty-two years. The Rice family originally came from Ireland. The Thomas family emanated from Wales. Francis Thomas, father of Mrs. Charlotte Dice's mother, first settled in Virginia ; raised a family, then moved to Ohio; then to the north part of Indiana, where he died in 1849, aged forty-six. By this marriage he has four children living, Salina A., Alice C., Ela, and Freman, all married and citizens of Fountain county. He has been very successful in life, but keeps only enough of his earnings to make him comfortable, giving the rest to his children. Franklin Dice lives in the northeast part of the township, one and a half miles east of Stone Bluff, on a good farm of 200 acres, which he has well improved and well stocked. He was married in 1851, to Malinda Redden, native of Indiana, daughter of William and Malinda (Glasscock) Redden, both of whom were early settlers of Fountian county. By this marriage lie has had six children : Olie 0. (dead), Jemima, Walsey, Flora (deceased), Hattie, and Boswick. Franklin Dice has been justice of the peace in Van Buren township for the past sixteen years, arid was reelected at the last election for a fourth term. He filled the office of township clerk for two years. He was engaged three years in the mercantile trade in Chambersburg, beginning in 1854. He arid his wife are members of the United Brethren church, at Stone Bluff. George Dice resides at Stone Bluff; lie has a beautiful farm of 226 acres, with good improvements. He was married in 1853, to Catherine Workman, native of Van Buren township, daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Shover) Workman. The former was native of Tennessee, the latter was native of Virginia. They came and settled in Fountain county at a very early time. Jacob Workman died in 1851, aged forty-five years ; his wife in 1852, aged fifty years. They located near Dry Run, where they remained till their death. By this union Mr. Dice has eleven children: Olive 0., James, Ulmer, Emma, Franklin, Carrie, Alie, Amand, Winnifred, Josie, and Catherine. Mr. Dice and wife are both members of the United Brethren church, at Stone Bluff. The Dice and Hawp families were both originally from Germany. Seldom do we find a family so large as the family of John Dice, all thriving and well-to-do farmers, grouped together in one township where they were reared. They are all republicans of the first rank. Formerly they were democrats till its principles became such as to clash with the best interest of the government, then they with one accord entered the political ranks which they have since kept.

Prepared by: Thomas H. Campbell